3 ms·
If the symbols are just functions then they can have longer-than-one-character names. A(x,y) is no different than add(x,y) no?
by gigatexal 4y ago
If the symbols are just functions then they can have longer-than-one-character names. A(x,y) is no different than add(x,y) no?
- ruste 4y agoThe advantage of single character concatenated symbols is that it allows your brain to group them rather than forcing you to read them separately. This means you almost unconsciously build up a bunch of set of instantly recognizable "chunks" of symbols that represent concepts you're familiar with. Each of these chunks can represent the equivalent of a huge amount of code in another language.
- bear8642 4y ago> bunch of set of instantly recognizable "chunks" Indeed! Much of APL programming is using idioms (≠⊆⊢ for example as split on delimiters) https://aplcart.info https://aplcart.info has a good selection too
- t-3 4y agoAs the other poster implied, it's the difference between a library of functions and an alphabet for composing functions. Concise symbols allow composition of "words" in a way that longer names really don't. There's a practical language design side too - I don't think the right-to-left evaluation and accompanying concision and logical reading order would work otherwise. Maps in other languages are so clumsy and clunky and backwards compared to the APL equivalent.
- gitonthescene 4y agoGermans beg to differ